To teach us about humility, Jesus shared this parable from Luke 18:10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
From a humble position and willing heart, cry out to God for His mercy. Even if you feel distant from God, He hears your authentic need. He desires to save you from your ego, pride, self-pity and self-bravado. He longs to draw you in close, beloved child. If you recognize God is God, and you are powerless (in need of mercy), He exalts and justifies you. To quote U2, “if you want to touch the sky, better learn how to kneel.”